Commentaries

Can Urban Scale Digital Twins Address Climate Adaptation?

Martin Mayfield (University of Sheffield) explains the importance of Urban Scale Digital Twins.

Urban infrastructure systems are essential supporting instruments of society; they evolve gradually and some 19^th century infrastructure remains viable and essential today. Martin Mayfield discusses how urban scale digital twins (USDT) provide a holistic approach to urban and infrastructure design, operation and future proofing.

Why Tools for Buildings and Cities Performance Simulation Need to Evolve

Joe Clarke (University of Strathclyde) describes the ‘7 deadly sins’ associated with performance simulation tools.

Simulation tools offer increased opportunities for understanding building performance, but also present significant challenges. To overcome the '7 deadly sins' associated with performance simulation tools, Joe Clarke argues that structural changes are needed involving the roles of construction industry, professional bodies, researchers and software developers.

Overheating in New Homes: A New Design Tool

Kevin Lomas discusses a new tool for the identifying and reducing overheating risk

The risk of overheating in homes is an increasing problem in the UK and elsewhere. Kevin Lomas discusses a ground-breaking new tool developed and launched to assist designers, planners and clients to identify and reduce the risk of summer overheating in dwellings.

Modern Methods of Construction: Unintended Consequences

Stuart Green explores the promises and pitfalls of Modern Methods of Construction

This article considers whether Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can really resolve the construction industry's challenges of a diminishing workforce and low productivity, whilst also delivering a more energy efficient built environment. Stuart Green explores how an alternative conceptualisation might help to avoid failure.

Architecture and the Climate Emergency

Alan Short responds to the Climate Emergency and argues we must rethink our dependency on the mechanical conditioning of buildings.

A city comprised of buildings with high energy demand is risky and damaging to the climate. Alan Short suggests that for change to occur, the behaviours and attitudes of the supply side need to change. The main barrier is for clients and their designers to break with the status quo.

Climate Emergency and Built Environment Education

Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training. Students need to be able to access and understand existing principles, methods and solutions for carefully defined, problem and evidence-based learning.

The built environment disciplines and their corresponding institutes / regulators must radically update their professional validation criteria for their education programmes now and more closely define the key competences that professionals must have. Fionn Stevenson explains why rapid change is needed to redefine education and training.